Polymelia, 16th Century

Woodcut of "monster with four legs and four arms" from Des Monstres et prodiges by Ambroise Par√©, 1573. Polymelia is a birth defect involving limbs (a type of dysmelia), in which the affected individual has more than the usual number of limbs. In humans and most land-dwelling animals, this means having five or more limbs. The extra limb is most commonly shrunken and/or deformed. Sometimes an embryo started as conjoined twins, but one twin degenerated completely except for one or more limbs, which end up attached to the other twin. Des Monstres is filled with unsubstantiated accounts of sea devils, marine sows, and monstrous animals with human faces. With its extensive discussion of reproduction and illustrations of birth defects, the book invited accusations of pornography.

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Science Source / Science Source

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2700 x 3654 pixels

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9 x 12 inches / 23 x 31 cm

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